Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statements of Financial Position) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2016- $1,105; 2015- $0)	[1]	$ 321,419		$ 290,323
Total investments		444,240		417,192
Cash and cash equivalents		14,127	[1]	17,612	[1]	$ 14,918	$ 11,439
Investment in subsidiaries		994		341		325
Other assets	[1],[2]	14,780		14,225
TOTAL ASSETS		783,962		757,255
LIABILITIES
Short-term debt		1,133		1,216
Long-term debt	[2]	18,041		19,594
Income taxes payable		10,412		8,714
Other liabilities	[1]	14,739		13,517
Total liabilities		737,874		715,332
EQUITY
Preferred Stock ($.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued)		0		0
Common Stock ($.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 660,111,339 shares issued as of both December 31, 2016 and 2015)		6		6
Additional paid-in capital		24,606		24,482
Common Stock held in treasury, at cost (230,537,166 and 213,009,970 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively)		(15,316)		(13,814)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		14,621		12,285
Retained earnings		21,946		18,931
Total equity		45,863		41,890
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		783,962		757,255
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, amortized cost		$ 292,581		$ 265,416
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, shares authorized		10,000,000		10,000,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued		0		0
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized		1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued		660,111,339		660,111,339
Common Stock held in treasury, shares		230,537,166		213,009,970
Prudential Financial
ASSETS
Investment contracts from subsidiaries		$ 1		$ 1
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2016- $1,105; 2015- $0)		1,071		0
Other investments		3,215		1,691
Total investments		4,287		1,692
Cash and cash equivalents		1,116		9,437		$ 8,692	$ 4,370
Due from subsidiaries		1,836		1,723
Loans receivable from subsidiaries		6,719		6,122
Investment in subsidiaries		54,422		50,625
Property, plant and equipment		559		579
Other assets	[2]	384		595
TOTAL ASSETS		69,323		70,773
LIABILITIES
Due to subsidiaries		2,585		7,664
Loans payable to subsidiaries		4,295		3,248
Short-term debt		535		831
Long-term debt		15,389	[2]	16,354
Income taxes payable		0		0
Other liabilities		656		786
Total liabilities		23,460		28,883
EQUITY
Preferred Stock ($.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued)		0		0
Common Stock ($.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 660,111,339 shares issued as of both December 31, 2016 and 2015)		6		6
Additional paid-in capital		24,606		24,482
Common Stock held in treasury, at cost (230,537,166 and 213,009,970 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively)		(15,316)		(13,814)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		14,621		12,285
Retained earnings		21,946		18,931
Total equity		45,863		41,890
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		69,323		70,773
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, amortized cost		$ 1,105		$ 0
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, shares authorized		10,000,000		10,000,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued		0		0
Prudential Financial | Common Stock
EQUITY
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized		1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued		660,111,339		660,111,339
Common Stock held in treasury, shares		230,537,166		213,009,970

[1] See Note 5 for details of balances associated with variable interest entities.

[2] Prior period amounts are presented on a basis consistent with the current period presentation, reflecting the adoption of ASU 2015-03. See Note 2 for additional information.